Sign



e. E FULLER.

I SIGN. APPLICATION FILED FEB.2I,'1916. 1,336,5 17. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Geo r effciaef GEORGE E. FULLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed February 21, 1916. Serial No. 79,584.

To (ZZZ who/12 it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. FULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and'Stat-e of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of the invention are, in general, the provision of an illuminated sign structure possessing marked advantages over the prior art from the important standpoints of simplicity of construction and consequent inexpensiveness, rigidity and durability, efliciency of display, protection of the sign and lamp from the elements, and the utilization of the light rays to the best advantage in the illuminating of the sign while shielding the eyes of the observer from the direct rays.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, a preferred and slightly modified embodiment of the same are set out in the accompanying drawings and in the following detailed description based thereon. Obviously the invention is susceptible of modification in wide range as to the constructional details of its embodiment, wherefore it will be understood that the illustration and description are to be taken in an illustrative rather than in an unnecessarily limiting sense. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sign embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same;

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary details, Figs. 5 and 7 being sections taken on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4: and 7-7 of Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through a slight modification; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 9.

As illustrated the wall of the building or other support is indicated at 11 wherefrom extends a horizontal angle bar 12 forming a ridge pole to support the framework 13, the members 12 and 13 being advantageously connected by the braces 14. Supported by the ridge bar 12 and the sloping rafter-like portions 13 of the frame 13, is a sheet metal hood forming a gambrel roof 15. Downwardly extending from the ridge bar 12 is a vertical partition member 16, the lower edge of which projects some distance below the rafter members 13*, struts 13 (Fig. 9) being advantageously used to connect the lower edge of the partition 16 with the lower edge of the frame.

The housing formed by the frame and hood may or may not be provided with end walls 17 herein illustrated as assembled with the hood and frame by providing the latter with an offset or loop portion 13 into the bight of which extends a pin 18 transfixed by a cotter 19. The end wall 17 is also advantageously secured to the partition 16 by means of angle brackets 20 riveted to the end wall and detachably secured to the partition by means of the bolt 21 (Fig. 6). The end walls 17 may be laterally bent along their margins to form flanges 17 and connected with the braces 14 and the rafter members 13 of the frame by means of bolts 22 having formed thereon shoulders 23 spaced from their heads 24 (Fig. 7), the heads 24f serving as studs for the removable suspension of translucent signs.

Frames 25 for the reception of glass 26 of a translucent character and adapted to bear the sign legend are provided with key hole slots or apertures 27 adapted to take over and engage the studs 24 in which way the signs are suspended from the frame members 13 on each side of and in spaced relation to the central partition 16. This partition 16 may also be provided along its lower edge with the rod 28 for the swinging suspension of an opaque sign 29.

Within the hood 15 above the horizontal plane of the lower edges thereof, are mounted the electric lamps 30 or other sources of light, the relation being such that the eyes of the observer are shielded from the direct rays of light.

The inner surfaces of the hood 15 and, where used, of the end walls 17, are painted or enameled white or otherwise treated to render the same reflecting in character. If translucent signs are to be used as illustrated in Fig. 2, the surfaces of the central partition 16 would likewise be treated to render the same reflecting so as to reflect the rays from the light 30 and the inner surface of the hood 15 through the translucent signs 26 in order to illuminate the same to the best advantage. Optionally, the translucent signs 26 may be omitted as indicated in Fig. 9, in which event the surfaces of the central partition 16 might be utilized for display purposes, the signs being directly printed thereon and illuminated. from the light and the interior surfaces of the hood 15.

It will be observed that by the construction above described, a device is provided which is susceptible of use in many ways adapted to the particular circumstances.

For indicating street crossings and many other situations translucent signs might be omitted and the central partition 16 utilized for the display of reading matter. The same sign structure might be used for the display of translucent signs by merely suspending such translucent signs from the studs 24: with supplemental signs, where desired, sus pended below the partition 16 as indicated at 29. It will be observed also that the lights are protected from the elements and the eyes of the observer shielded from the direct rays from the lamp by means of the downwardly projecting portions of the hood. The mechanical elements of the sign structure are so constructed as to be inexpensive of manufacture and assemblage. Other advantages than those enumerated will be apparent to those skilled in this art.

I claim:

, 1. In a display device, the combination with a light, of a hood arranged above the same and having vertical end walls and side walls downwardly and outwardly inclined to a horizontal plane below the level of the light, the hood having inner reflecting surfaces, a frame arranged to support the hood and light and including a central vertical partition and rafter portions underlying the hood, the partition having reflecting side faces, studs on the rafter ends, and translucent signs having keyhole suspension apertures engaging the studs, said signs disposed in the path of the light rays reflected by the partition.

2. An advertising sign comprising a casing, advertising frames forming the sides thereof, lights in the casing, and a reflector between said lights depending downwardly between the side frames adapted to intercept direct rays from said lights to reflect the same through the advertising frames to substantially illuminate said advertising frames only by reflected rays of li ht.

In testimony whereof have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

GEORGE E. FULLER.

I/Vitnesses: a v

MILTON T. MILLER, LEWIS T. GREIsT; 

